Time-stamp.



No. 700,688. Patented May 20, I902.

E. B. HESS &. J. M. STOUGHTON.

TIME STAMP.

(Application filed Oct. 12, 1901.) (No Model.) 4'Sheets-Shaat I.

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Patented May 20, I902. E. B. HESS &. J. M. STOUGHTUN.

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(Application filed Oct. 12, 1901.) (No Model.

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No. 700,688. Patented May 20, I902. E. B. HESS 8. J. M. STOUGHTUN.

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(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ED WARD B. HESS, OF BROOKLYN, AND JOSEPH M. STOUGHTON, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENTS COMPANY, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TIME-STAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,688, dated May 20, 1902.

Application filed October 12, 1901. Serial No. 78,426. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD B. IInss, a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings,city of NewYork,and JOSEPH M. STOUGHTON, a resident of Yonkers, in the county of Westchester, State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Stamps, of which the following is a I0 specification.

Our invention relates to a combined time and dating stampthat is to say, a contrivance for printing the years, months, days, hours, and minutes.

Various objects of our invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

The year, month, and day wheels are key operated and actuated, while the hour and minute hands are operated by the clock-move- 2o ment. The dating-wheels are mounted in bearings separate from the bearings of the minute and hour wheels, thus in efiect making the machine in two sections and relieving the time mechanism of the strains put on the dating mechanism. The dating mechanism being mounted and actuated independently of the time mechanism, the latter may be of cheap construction and small power, because it has only to turn the hour and minute wheels 50 and two or three other small and light pieces, which will be hereinafter referred to. The hour and minute wheels are of novel construction and are so mounted as to take all the strain 01f the clockwork, while at the same 5 time permitting a violent printing blow upon the platen head or plunger. Means are provided for locking the latter at midnight or at the end of twenty-four hours, so as positively to insure the correct setting of the date for the next days use of the machine, thus providing against errors and fraudulent marking. The unlocking of this mechanism is effected through the operation of the key that operates the day-wheel, and in connection with this means is a registering mechanism likewise affected by the day-wheel key and which will tally the number of times the latter has been actuated. The cover-plate supports a ribbon mechanism so constructed as normally to hold the inking-ribbon out of the paths of rotation of the printing-wheels, so as to avoid smutting the wheels and offering resistance to their rotation, particularly that of the minute and hour wheels. These and other novel features of our machine which it has been our objects to provide will be found fully illustrated in the drawings and described more in detail hereinafter.

Our invention consists in the various features of construction and combinations of devices hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the combined time and dating stamp involving our improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the casing and platen-plunger removed. Fig. 8 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the entire machines Fig.4:isatransverse vertical section taken on the line 00 00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line y y of Fig. 3 and looking toward the right. Fig. 6 is a similar view, but looking toward the left and with a portion of the top plate broken away. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken at the line 2 z of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is an inverted plan of the top plate and rib- 8o bon mechanism. Fig. 9 represents in two views sectional details of certain connections in the time mechanism. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a modified construction of the yielding time-wheel, and Fig. 11 is a central vertical section thereof.

In the various views the same parts will be found designated by the same numerals of reference.

1 designates the base-plate, from which extend upwardly four side plates 2, 8, 4t, and 5, forming a casing. The front side plate 2 is provided with a circular opening, in which is inserted and secured a clock-dial 6, properly mounted in a metallic frame 7, to which is 5 hinged at 8 a bezel or door 9, containing the usual glass or crystal. At a point opposite the hinge the bezel is provided with a stud 10, which passes through coinciding openings in the dial, frontplate 2, and back plate 7 of I the frame 7 for engagement by a pivoted arm 11, having a spring 12, which normally presses the free end of said arm against a pin 13 on a bolt 14, forming part of alock, which is secured by screws 15 on the inner side of the front plate 2 and has its key-receiving por tion 16 projecting through an opening in said front plate to the outer side thereof. WVhen by a suitable key inserted at 16 the bolt 1% is moved inwardly, the spring-pressed arm 11 vibrates in the direction of movement of said bolt, and one portion of the edge of said arm enters a notch or cut-away 17 in the stud 10 of the glass door when the latter is in closed position, and thus the said door cannot be opened until the bolt 14 has been retracted, and the pin 13 thereof carries the pivoted arm 11 back to first position, and thus unlocks said door. When the door is locked, of course tampering with the hands and shaft of the clock-movement is prevented.

The bolt 14 of the lock is notched at 18 to engage a hook 19 on the under side of a top plate 20 when the latter is in properposition upon the casing, and thus when said top plate is locked it is impossible to remove it and tamper with the mechanism beneath. The opposite end of the top plate is provided with two other hooks 21, which engage lugs 22 on the back plate 3 of the casing. The clock or time mechanism is essentially of common construction, and the various toothed wheels and pinions are driven by the power of a mainspring 23 in substantially the usual manner. The hour-hand is connected to a sleeve 24, which is turned by a wheel 25 through a pinion 26, wheel 27, and barrel-pinion 28, which is fast on the main shaft or arbor 29. The pinion 28 is on a sleeve (not shown) which is supported on said shaft, and to its forward end is attached the minutehand. The sleeve 2% surrounds the sleeve 28. The shaft 29 is made in two parts, as indicated at Fig. 9, the rear end of the forward part being slightly reduced in diameter and slotted or forked, as at 30, and entering a socket 81 in the forward end of the back part, at which portion is a transverse pin 32, which is engaged by said fork and so as to transmit the motion of the forward part of the shaft to the rear part, while at the same time permit-- ting these parts to be readily pulled apart when it may be desired to detach the mechanism hereinafter described from the clockwork. The shaft 29 is providedwith a barrelpinion 33, which receives motion from the large wheel 3%,connected with the mainspring, and in turn gives motion to a toothed wheel 35, that is rigidly connected to said pinion 33 and frictionally connected to the shaft by means of a friction-spring made in the form of a cup-shaped washer 36, secured to said shaft by contact with a collar and bearing against the side of the wheel 35, which latter wheel gears with a pinion connected with a series of other wheels leading to the escapenient mechanism and not necessary to de scribe. By reason of the frictional connection at the shaft may be rotated by the spring-power,or it may be turned by a suitable key applied at the forward end of the shaft to set the hands and time-marking wheels without interfering with the movements of the parts comprising the clock mechanism.

The shaft 29 is supported at one end in the usual plates 37 of the clock-movement, and after passing through a plate its rear end is supported in a standard 39, secured to the bed-plate 1. The clock-movement as an entirety is secured by screws to the front side of the plate 38. of the shaft just forward of the standard 39 is a minute-marking wheel 10, and in front of the latter is arranged an hour-marking wheel 4-1, fast on. a sleeve 42, which surrounds and bears upon the shaft 29, but is not secured thereto. The forward end of the sleeve 42 is provided with a toothed wheel 13 and with a ratchet-wheel 4%, which cooperates with certain devices presently to be explained for offectinga rotative movement of the hour-wheel, the rotation of the minute-wheel being effected directly by the shaft 29, to which it is attached.

The construction and mode of operation of the minute-wheel d0 are important features of the apparatus. Said wheel consists of a rim 1-5 of rigid material, such as metal or hard rubber, and around the outer surface of the same aredisposed the numerals from O to 59, indicative of the minutes of an hour. These numerals are in the form of raised types, as indicated at 46. The said rigid rim a5 is connected to a rigid hub 17 (that is fixed to the shaft 29) by means of a series of radially-arranged spoke-like coiled springs 48 under tension, the outer ends of which are preferably attached to short studs or pins projecting radially inwardly from the inner side of the rim, and the inner ends of which springs are likewise connected to the hub or center 1-7 in a similar mannerthat is to say, to a series of radially-arranged studs or pins projecting from the outer surface of the hubthe ends of the springs in all cases fitting over the said studs or pins, so as to obtain a good bearing and connection and one which may subsequently be conveniently made permanent by the use of solder. The hour-wheel 41 is similarly constructed-that is to say, it is composed of a rigid rim portion 19, having upon its periphery raised types 1-1 to indicate the hours both of the day and night-and this rim is connected to its hub 50 by means of a series of radial spoke-like coiled tension-springs 50, secured at their ends to the inner side of the rim and to the face of the hub and preferably by means of studs, as before explained with reference to the minute-wheel. Of course the springs or yielding spokes in each wheel may be otherwise formed and connected, so long as the rim portion of the wheel is yieldin gly connected to its hub portion. The main purpose of this construction is to take the Secured to the rearmost end I force of the blow imparted to the wheel in the stamping operation off the shaft or arbor of the clock mechanism, and hence avoid putting any injurious strain upon the latter, which would cause a breakage or derangement of the parts or otherwise interfere with the accurate running of the timepiece.

While we prefer to construct both the minute-wheel and the hour-wheel alike with respect to the rigid but bodily-yielding rim portion, it is, however, of more importance that the minute-wheel be thus constructed than the hour-wheel, because the latter is connected directly to the continually-revolving shaft of the timepiece, while the former is not, and in consequence the hour-wheel may be solid and so mounted as to have a bearing independent of the shaft and so as not to transmit thereto the force of the blows imparted to said hour-wheel. Nevertheless, it is desirable to construct the hour-wheel, as well as the minute-wheel, with the rigid bodily-yielding rim, so as to reduce to the minimum the transmission of shocks or blows from the time-marking wheels to the shaft or other moving parts of the timepiece.

Beneath the minute-wheel and the hourwheel is an abutment or cushion 51 to arrest the descent of the rims of said wheels and provide a suitable backing or support during the printing or stamping operations. This abutment comprises a block which is attached to the bed-plate and provided at its upper end with a leather or other suitable cushion or facing 52, against which the type or marking devices on the lowerside of the rim hear when the latter is forced down under the action of the plunger, which will be presently described. The minute-wheel being fixed to the constantly-rotating shaft 29, turns always with the latter; but the hour-wheel turns only once an hour and by the following means: On the shaft 29 immediately behind the front supporting-plate 38 is attached a snailcam 53, which during the rotation of said shaft gradually acts on and lifts a lever 54, pivoted at 55 to the plate 38 and provided with a'returning-spring 56. The said lever 54 carries at near its free end a driving-pawl 57, which engages with the ratchet-wheel 44, attached to the sleeve 42. The cam 53 makes one revolution in one hour, and at the end of this period the highest portion of the cam passes from under the projection 58, borne on the under side of the lever, and immediately the lever descends under the force of its spring 56, and the pawl 57, which has been lifted meanwhile to engage a fresh tooth of the ratchet-wheel 44, drives said ratchetwheel one tooth-space and through the sleeve 42 effects a turning of the hour-wheel 41 a step equal to the distance between successive hours as laid out on the periphery of said wheel. For the purpose of holding the ratchet-wheel from movement and in alinement while the pawl is out of engagement with its tooth there is provided a small roller 59, that is pressed between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel by a spring 60. The pawl is prevented from descending too far or is limited in its working stroke by an inclined face 61 on a stud 62, projectinginwardly from the plate 38, the said inclined face causing the free end of the pawl 57 to wedge or jam between said face and a tooth of the ratchet-wheel 44 at the completion of a step movement of said wheel, thus limiting the turning movement of said wheel and the downward movement of the pawl-carrying lever 54 and pre venting overthrow of the wheel.

For the purpose of holding the hour-wheel against rotation while the cam 53 is forcing the pawl-carrying lever 54 upwardly we employ a detent 63, that engages with the teeth of the wheel 43 and is pivoted at 64 upon the stud 62 and provided with a laterally-extending arm 65, that is adapted to be acted on by the free end of the lever 54 to raise the detent 63 from engagement with the toothed wheel 43, and when the cam 53 releases said lever the latter lifts the detent, and the pawl 57 operates to turn the ratchet-wheel and the detent-wheel 43 and through them the hourwheel. A spring coiled around said stud 62 and attached at one end to the plate 38 and hearing at its opposite free end on the under side of the arm is adapted to restore the detent 63 into engagement with its wheel as soon as the pressure of the pawl-carrying lever 54 is removed from the arm 65 by the lifting power of the cam 53. Immediately the projection 58 drops off the high part of the cam the free end of the arm 54 strikes the arm 65 and raises the detent in ample time to permit the driving-pawl 57 to turn the wheels 44, 43, and 41.

A strong shaft 67, mounted at one end in a standard 39 and at its opposite end in a partition and supporting-plate 68, is adapted directly and by intermediate devices to support three dating-wheels and ratchet-wheels for turning the same independently of one another.

On the inner end of the shaft 67 at about the middle of the machine is affixed by setscrew 69 a wheel 7 0, which is preferably composed of a solid rim, web, and hub, and on the periphery of said rim are formed or provided types designating the twelve months of the year. Next to said wheel 70 on the left is another solid wheel 71, having on its periphery types from 1 to 31,.designating the days of the month, and on the left of wheel 71 is still another solid wheel 72, bearing upon its periphery types indicating the years. The wheel 71 is connected to the inner end of a sleeve 73, surrounding the shaft 67 and having a flange 74, to which the web of the wheel 71 is attached bymeans of horizontal screws 75. The wheel 72 is connected to a shorter sleeve 76 (surrounding the sleeve 73) by screws 77, connecting the web of the wheel with a flange 78 on sleeve 76. By connecting the wheel 70 with the shaft 67 the wheel may be turned by rotating the shaft, by connecting the wheel 71 to the sleeve 73 the former wheel may be rotated by turning the sleeve, and by'connecting the wheel 72 to the sleeve 76 the wheel may be rotated independently by turning the sleeve. Near the left-hand end of the shaft is secured by a setscrew 79 a ratchet-wheel 80, which is adapted to be turned step by step through a key 81, having a stem 82, which slides in openings in horizontally-arranged guide-plates 83 and 84:, supported by posts 85, rising from the bed-plate. The key stem or slide 82 is provided with a laterally-extending portion 80, to which is pivoted at 87 an upwardly-extended driving-pawl 88, having a spring 89, secured at one end to the key-arm 86 and pressing atits other end upon said pawl to maintain the free end of said pawlin engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 80. Beneath the guide-plate 8 1 is a spring 90, which is attached at one end to the bed-plate and which at its free end. bears up against the lower end of the key-stein 82, the spring operating to restore these parts to normal position after a depression and release of said key and at the same time to turn the wheel 70. When the key is depressed, the pawl is carried down and engages a lower tooth of the ratchet-wheel 80, so that on the return of said key the pawl may operate to turn the ratchet-Wheel and through the shaft 67 the month-wheel one step or a distance equal to that between the months as disposed on the periphery of said wheel. In rising (under the action of the spring 90) the pawl and the key are limited in their movements by a screw-stop 91, projecting downwardlyfrom a horizontal cross-bar 92, supported at one end upon the plate 68, the slanting back of the pawl in its ascent striking against the point of the stop and being arrested thereby and at the same time causing the pawl to be wedged into the engaged notch of the ratchetwheel, and thus by its pressure thereon prevent any overthrow of said wheel and of the month-wheel, which it drives. The ratchetwheel 80 is prevented from having any reverse or backward movement by a spring-detent 93, bearing at one end against the teeth of said wheel and secured at its opposite end upon a horizontal bar 945, projecting inwardly from the plate 68.

The day-wheel 71 is turned step by step by a ratchet-wheel 95, secured by a set-screw 96 on the sleeve 73, and which ratchet-wheel is moved step by step by a pawl 97, pivoted at 98 upon an arm 99, projecting laterally from a vertical stem or slide 100, having at its upper end a button or key and working in slots or openings in the guide-plates S3 and Sat in the same manner as the key-stem S2. The pawl 97 projects upwardly and is maintained in engagement with the ratchet-wheel by spring 101, secured at one end to said arm 99 and bearii'ig at its opposite end against said pawl, and at the under side of said key-stem is a voaess spring 102, fastened at one end to the baseplate and operating to restore the key and pawl to their normal positions and turn the ratchet-wheel after a depression and release of the key. For this pawl there is also provided a depending serew-stop 91, supported in the bar 92 and operating on the pawl in the same manner as that above described with reference to the stop 91, and to prevent the ratchet-wheel 95 and the day-wheel connected thereto from turning backwardly there is provided a spring-detent 103, which is mounted and operates in the same manner as the detent 93 for the wheel 80.

For the purpose of turning the year-wheel 72 the sleeve 76 is provided with a ratchet wheel 101-, which is engaged by a pawl 105, pivoted at 106 on an arm 107, extending laterally from a stem or slide 108 and provided with aspring 109, arranged and operating like the springs 89 and 101. There is also a screwstop 91 for the pawl 105. The stem or slide passes through openings in the guide-plates S3 and 8t and is provided with a key or button at its upper end and at its lower end is operated on by a spring 110, which is secured at one end to the base-plate.

The keys or buttons of the slides 82, 100, and 108 are preferablyinscribed,respectively, Mo, (for month,) Day, and Year, so as to facilitate the work of setting their associated n1arking-wheels All of said wheels are turned step by step through their keys and pawl-and-ratchet mechanisms and on the upstrokes of said keys.

On the back plate 3 of the casing is secured by an integral plate 111 and fastening-screws a hollowarm or backbone 112, which extends vertically above the top plate and then horizontally forward over the marking-wheels, at which end the said arm is formed with a head 113, in which is arranged a plunger or slide 114, provided at its upper end with a knob 115 and at its lower end with a horizontal platen 116, consisting of a square plate-like device large enough to cover all five of the markingwheels (and any other marking devices which may be used) and provided on its under or striking face with a cushion of soft rubber or other suitable material. The metallic platelike portion of the platen is formed centrally with a hollow upwardly-projecting neck 117, into which passes the lower end of the plunger or slide 114- and to which the platen is secured by transverse pins 118, passing through coinciding holes in the neck and in the plunger. The plunger is madehollow to receive a coiled returning-spring 119, the upper end of which is attached to an inwardly-projecting pin 120, seen red in the head 1 13 and passing through a slot 121 in the plunger, which permits the latter to be depressed, and the 0pposite or lower end of said springis attached to the head of a screw 122,secured in the platen and projecting up within the neck 117. From the foregoing it will be observed that when the knob is struck the plunger and the platen will descend, thus stretching the spring 119, which on removal of the hand from the knob will restore the parts to normal position. A rubber washer 123 may be provided between the upper end of the neck and the lower end of the head 113 to deaden the return stroke of the platen. The downward movement of the platen is sufiicient, of course, to enable it to effect impressions by the several printingwheels upon an interposed piece of paper and through the agency of an inking-ribbon presently to be described.

Within the arm or standard 112 is arranged a bar 124, that slides in an opening or bearing in a transverse web 125 and in an opening or bearing 126 in the rearside of the head 113. Registering with the opening 126 is a slot or opening 127, formed in the plunger 114. The sliding bar 124 is connected by pins to the upper end of a vertically-arranged lever 128, pivoted centrally at 129 in a lug 130, projecting horizontally forward from the plate 111. To the lower end of the lever 12% is attached by a pin-andslot connection 131 a horizontal rod 132, which is slidably mounted in bearings in the plates 63 and 39 and which at its forward free end is notched or cut away at 133 to cooperate with a lever 134, pivoted at 135 on a stud on the plate 38. The said lever 134 is formed With a heel or extension 136 to engage with the said notch 133 and with a laterally-projecting arm 137, which acts as a weight to hold the upper end of said lever in the path of rotation of a cam or finger 138, fast on the sleeve 42. A stop-pin 139 is provided for the weight-arm 137 to rest against and to maintain the upper beveled portion of said lever that cooperates with the cam or finger in proper operative position with respect to the latter.

On the rod 132 is arranged a coiled spring 140, one end of Which bears against the plate 39 and the opposite end against the boss of a cross-pin 141, fixed to said rod by a set-screw. Said cross-pin bears against a downwardlyprojectingarm 142 on a rock-shaft 143,which is mounted atits outer end in apost 144 and at its inner end in a stand 145, rising from the baseplate. At the outer end of said rock-shaft is secured a horizontal rearwardly-projecting rocker-arm 146, which is seated in a notch 147, formed in the inner edge of the stem or slide 100 of the day-wheel key, so that the day-wheel key controls the setting of the spring rod or latch mechanism that controls the locking devices at the plunger-head. WVhen the daywheel key is depressed through therockerarms 146 and 142 and pin 141, the rod 132 is moved forwardly, the spring compressed, and the extension 136 of the lever 134 engaged with the notch 133 at the extremity of the said rod, thus latching the latter under tension and holding the locking-bar 124 out of engagement with the notch in the plunger. The parts will remain in this condition until the end of twenty-four (24) hours, or at midnight, when the cam or finger 138 strikes the bevcled nose of the latching-lever 134 and vibrates said lever about its pivot 135 sufficiently to disengage the extension 136 from the notch in the rod 132, whereupon the spring 140 will move the rod rearwardly and vibrate the lever 12S and cause the locking-bar 124 to engage the notch 127 in the plunger, thus locking the latter and the platen carried thereby against depression and preventing the printing instru mentalities from operating. The parts will always be maintained in this locked condition until the day-wheel key is again depressed, whereupon the rod 132 will be moved forwardly and relatched with the lever 134 and the bolt or bar 124 retracted. It will be understood, however, that these operations in no wise interfere with the movement of the clock mechanism,which continues to operate during the time the plunger and platen are locked.

The operation of the day-wheel key also effects a movement of an adding or registering mechanism. Secured to the ratchet-wheel 95 by screws 143 is a spur-gear 149, that meshes with a pinion on the projecting end of the shaft of a counting or registering mechanism 151, which may be of any wellknown or desired construction, preferably a cyclometer, such as is used on bicycles, the registering mechanism being contained within a case that is secured to the back wall 3 ofthe main casing. At each depression of the day-wheel key through the gear 149 and pinion 150 the registering mechanism is turned one step, and the numbers of the registering mechanism indicating successive days are brought into view through a glass-covered sight-hole in the casing. The object of this mechanism is to provide means to prevent improper dating of papers or other records without detection or at least without showing that some improper use has been made of the machine. For example, if the machine be set to date papers as of October15, 1901, the person in charge of the machine may by operating the day-key advance the day-wheel (as well as the remaining wheels) one or more days, so as to date a paper ahead, or he may turn the wheel sufticientlyto bring into printing position an earlier day, so as to give the paper an anterior date; but inasmuch as the registering mechanism will be actuated each time the day-key is manipulated it will be seen that a telltale is thus provided which will act as a deterrent against improper use of the machine, it being only necessary for the employer to keep a record of the state of the register at any given date to enable him to ascertain at any subsequent date whether or not the machine has been improperly used for dating purposes.

Preferably an opening is made in the top plate over the three keys included in the dating mechanism, and a slide or cover 151 is provided to inclose or shield said keys, the cover being adapted to be removed at any time to afford access to the latter.

The papers are marked or impri nted through an inking-ribbon 152, which is attached atits ends to spools or cores 153, fast on the inner ends of hand-shafts 151, projecting inwardly from opposite ends of the top plate 20 and mounted in bearings 155 and 155 on the under side of the latter, a coiled spring 156 being arranged on each shaft between one head of the spool and the bearing-plate 155 and operating to force the opposite end or head of the spool against the bearing-plate 155 with sulfieient friction to prevent the spool-shaft from rotating too freely, and thus permitting the ribbon to become unwound and loose, which of course is objectionable. The ribbon is of a width such as fully to cover the upper working portions of the five marking-wheels, (and any additional dating devices that may be provided,) and when worn or exhausted of its ink at any given portion the latter may be carried out of the field of impression by rotating either spool and a fresh or unused portion of the ribbon brought into operative relation to the marking devices, the elongated shafts 151 being preferably provided at their outer ends with knobs or hand-wheels 157, projecting beyond the top plate to facilitate the feeding movements of the ribbon from one spool to the other.

Between the ribbon-spools is a ribbon guide and support of novel construction and mode of operation and comprising in this instance a plate 158, which is secured at its forward edge to the front end of the top plate and which extends rearwardly just past an opening 159 at the center-of the top plate 20, where it is free or disconnected. Secured on the under side of the top plate are two flat springs 160, whose free ends are provided with pins or projections 161, which extend upwardly through openings in the top plate and bear against the under side of the uppermost plate 158, and so as to hold the free inner end of said plate or support above the surface of the top plate 20, as shown at Figs. 8 and 5. On the under side of the topmost supportingplate 158 are two parallel wires or rods 162, extending longitudinally of said plate and held in position by means of downwardly-projecting lugs secured to said plate. The said wires or rods are hung at a sufficient distance below the under side of the plate 158 to permit the passage of the inking-ribbon over said wires or rods, so that the latter act to support the middle portion of the ribbon between the spools and guide the same in its passage from one spool to another. In applying a ribbon to the machine one end is first attached to one spool and the opposite end of the ribbonis then threaded in between the supporting devices 162 and the plate or holder 158 and over to the other spool, to whichit is then connected. By reason of the attachment of only one end of the plate 158 the opposite or free end may be readily lifted and held up by the springs 160, and the ribbon connected thereto thus maintained normally above and out of contact with said marking wheels or devices, so as not to smut the same or offer any resistance to their free rotation, especially of the wheels which are connected to the time mechanism. The plate 158 being hinged at one edge to the cover and inclining upwardly from its point of connection, constitutes, with the adjacent face of the cover, a guiding-surface for an inserted sheet or envelop, while at the same time it holds the ribbon normally out of contact with the printing-wheels.

At the center of the free end of the ribbon lifting and supporting plate 158 an opening 163, in register with that in the top plate, is provided to enable the paper placed on said plate 158 to be stamped or imprinted by the marking wheels or surfaces through said ribbon.

The following description of the use and mode of operation of the machine, taken in connection with what has already been said, will enable those skilled in the art fully to understand our invention and practice the same.

The clock-spring having been wound and its mechanism put into operation, the minutemarking wheel 10 will turn in unison with the minute-hand of the clock mechanism, and at the end of every sixty minutes the hourmarking wheel will be turned one step. The uppermost figures or types 011 the minute and hour wheels and on the year, month, and day wheels and which are arranged in a straight line are those which make their impressions on the paper to be stamped. The datingwheels having been set for the required date and the plunger being unlocked, the paper to be marked or stamped is placed upon the surface of the plate 158, with the portion thereof to be impressed over the opening 103, and while the paper is in this position the knob 115 is struck by the hand of the user and the platen forced downwardly upon the paper, the blow of the platen upon the plate 158 forcing it and the paper and the ribbon downwardly, (about the front end ofthe plate 158 as a hinge,) and the uppermost line of types on the several wheels are caused to leave their impressions on the under side of the paper. Upon release of the knob the plunger and platen will return to normal position by the agency of the spring 119, and the ribbon-plate and ribbon will rise to normal position under the influence of the springs 160. On the descent of the platen, as just described, the rims of the minute and hour marking wheels 4:0 and 411, which, as will be observed at Fig. 3, stand slightly above the plane of the uppermost portions of the dating-wheels, are bodilydepressed transversely of their shaft until their lowermost type portions bear against the pad or cushion 51, at which time the uppermost type portions are then brought into the same plane as the type portions of the dating-wheels, thereby effecting an even impression on the paper. Owing to the capacity of the rigid rims of the ICO recess minute and hour marking wheels to descend or yield bodily under the blow of the platen independently'of the hub or center portions of said wheels, the shocks and strains incident to the blow upon the wheels are diverted wholly from the shaft or arbor of the clock mechanism and transmitted to and resisted by the abutment 51 beneath said wheels, and which abutment, though shown in curved form, may be a straight face-block instead. During the descent of the rim portion, while the hub portion remains relatively fixed, the intermediate spoke-like springs are some of them compressed, others expanded, and others only flexed, the uppermost springs compressing, the lowermost ones distending, and the lateral ones bending downward, and all of said springs operating to raise the rim as the plunger ascends. \Vhile the rims are down, as just explained, the shaft 29 and the hubs of the wheels may turn, owing to the spiralspring connection between the hubs and the rims. Indeed, in consequence of the extreme flexibility of the spokes, it is possible to hold the rim down in abnormal or printing position for a number of minutes without in any wise affecting the rotating movement of the shaft and hub, and the construction is such that when the rim is released it will not only rise, but also rotate or oscillate to a position concentric to the shaft, and hence the numbered or type portions of the wheel will take their proper posit-ions relatively to their shaft and hub, so that if the plunger be immediately depressed again the rim of the wheel will be in proper position for correctly marking the time. It will thus be seen that on account of the peculiar mode of constructing and mounting the minute-wheel it has, first, a rotative movement with the shaft of the clock mechanism, as if it were a solid wheel fixed thereon; secondly, that its rim portion has a bodily-yielding transverse or up-anddown motion independently of the hub of the wheel when the platen is brought down to print; thirdly, that the rim portion may be held down while the shaft continues to rotate, and, fourthly, that the rim will rise automatically and at the same time, if necessary, rotate or oscillate slightly around the axis of the shaft and automatically restore itself concentrically with the latter and in proper relationship thereto and to the time mechanism or minute-handthat is to say, if, for example, the minute-hand has gone around the dial five degrees or has traveled for five minutes while the rim is held down the rim when released will automatically turn a distance proportioned to said five minutes, and thus bring itself into proper time position. The hourmarking wheel has substantially the same mode of operation.

It will be noted that the inner end of the shaft 67, that supports the dating-wheels, is mounted in the standard 30, (of inverted-U form,) which surrounds but does not touch the standard 39, that supports the inner end of the shaft 2.) of the clock mechanism, and hence it will be seen that the blows delivered on the dating-wheels are not transmitted to the bearing of the shaft 29, as would be the case if these two shafts were mounted in the same brackets or standards.

At the end of every sixty min utes the hourmarking wheel 41 is rotated bythe pawl-andratchet mechanism before described and which is controlled by the cam 53 on the minute-shaft 29.

At the end of twenty-four hours the cam 138, which rotates with the hour-wheel and which is fixed to come into play at midnight hour, operates on the locking-lever 13% and causes it to release the spring-pressed rod 132 to cause it to engage the bolt or bar 126 with the plunger, and thus lock the latterin a state of disuse. The next day before the user of the machine can operate it he must first, after removing the slide or cover 151, depress the day-key, and thus advance the day-wheel 71 one day, and in this operation, as before explained, the plunger is unlocked and the spring-pressed rod 132 again relocked with the lever 18%. At the same time that the day-wheel is turned one step and the plunger unlocked the telltale or registering mechanism is also advanced one number.

Various changes in details of construction maybe made in various parts of our machine without departing from the gist of our improvements as specified in the claims, and while we greatly prefer the construction of the minute-wheel and hour-wheel with spokes made of springs nevertheless these wheels may be made resilient or elastic between their rims and hubs, as illustrated at Figs. 10 and 11, wherein the rim 45 is made of rigid material, as hereinbefore described with reference to other figures, and with a rigid hub, as 27, adapted to be secured to the shaft 29 or to the sleeve 42, according as itis made for a minute-wheel or an hour-wheel. The intermediate rim-supporting or web portion may, however, be made of soft rubber which will permit the rim to yield bodily independently of its hub or center and will by its elasticity or resiliency restore the rim to normal position after the stamping operation, while at the same time permitting a slight amount of independent rotation of the hub while the rim is held down in working position by the platen.

It has been stated that the rim of the printing-wheeleither the minute or hour wheel is rigid or is made of rigid material, such as metal or hard rubber. The term rigid is, however, a relative one. The rim should be comparatively rigid, considered with reference to its yielding support. If made, as

stated, of hard rubber and of the dimensions shown in the drawings, (which are approximately full size,) it would if compressed against the abutment 51 by a sufficiently hard impact of the platen yield or flatten somewhat, and the resiliency of the rubber would cause it to again assume its true circular shape. In all cases, whatever the material or construction of the rim, it should be suffieiently rigid to insure clear impressions being taken from it. There an inking-ribbon is employed, a greater pressure is requisite than where the characters on the printingwheels are otherwise inked.

/Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a clock-movement and a printingnvheel mounted on the minutearbor of the clock-movement and comprising a rigid hub and a rigid rim elastically con nected to the hub.

2. The combination of a clock-movement, and a marking-rim elastically mounted on the minute-arbor of the clock-movement.

3. The combination of a clock-movement, a hub secured to the minute-arbor thereof, a series of springs secured at their inner ends to the hub, and a rigid marking-rim secured to the outer ends of the springs.

4. The combination of a clock-movement, a printing-wheel fixed to the minute-arbor thereof and comprising a rigid hub, a rigid marking-rim and elastic connections between the two, and a platen and an abutment arranged respectively on opposite sides of said rim.

5. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock movement, a clock rotated shaft, a printing-wheel having a hub rigidly attached to said shaft and a printing-surface cooperatingwith said platen and means which afford a movement of the rim of said wheel independently of its hub and shaft.

6. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a printing-wheel cooperating therewith, a clock-movement including a shaft upon which the hub of said wheel is rigidly mounted,and means which afford a movement of the printing-surface of. said wheel independently of said shaft.

7. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a printing-wheel cooperating therewith, a clock-movement including a shaft which carries said wheel, and means which afford a movement of the printing'surface of said wheel radially or toward and from said shaft.

8. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a printing-wheel cooperating therewith, a clock-movement including a shaft upon which said wheel is mounted and adapted to turn for a limited distance, means which afford a movement of the rim of said wheel radially or toward and from said shaft, and means for limiting the radial movement of said rim.

9. I11 a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a printing-wheel cooperating therewith, a clock-movement including a shaft upon which said wheel is directly mounted to turn therewith in order to expose different printing-surfaces on the wheel, and springsnpporting means which afford a movement of the printing-surface of said wheel around and also radially or toward and from said shaft.

10. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, a rigid arbor operated by said clock-niovement,aprinting-wheel mounted upon said arbor to rotate therewith and to turn thereon, means which afford a movement of said wheel radially or toward and from the arbor, and a platen which cooperates with the printing-wheel, whereby the force of the impact between the platen and printing-wheel will not be transmitted to the arbor.

11. In a timestamp, the combination of a clock-movement, an arbor operated by said clock-movemen t, a printing-wheel, a radiallyactiug spring connection between the rim of said wheel and the arbor, and a platen which cooperates with the printing-wheel, whereby the force of the impact between the platen and printing-wheel will not be transmitted to the arbor, and the arbor is capable of rotating a limited distance independently of the said rim.

12. In a timestamp, the combination of a clock-movement, an arbor operated by said clock-movement, a printing-wheel surrounding said arbor and having springs interposed between its printing-rim and its hub, a platen cooperating with the printingwheel, and means for limiting the movementof the print ing-rim transversely to the arbor.

13. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, an arbor operated by said clock-movement,a printing-wheel operatively connected to said arbor, said printing-wheel having aplurality of radialsprings interposed between its printing-rim and said arbor, a platen cooperating with the printing-wheel, and an abutment independent the clock-movement and againstwhich the rim of the printing-wheel is adapted to be forced by the platen.

14-. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, a rigid arbor operated by said clock-movement,a printing-wheel mounted directly on said arbor, means which afford a movement of said wheel in every direction independently of the arbor, a platen which cooperates with the printing-wheel, whereby the force of the impact between the platen and printing-wheel will not be transmitted to the arbor, and whereby the arbor may turn for a limited distance independently of the printing-surface of said wheel, and means for limiting the said independent movement of said printing-wheel in a direction transverse to said arbor.

15. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, a rigid arbor operated by said clock-movement, a rigid printing-surface which is mounted concentrically on and is carried directly by said arbor, and means which permit the printing-surface to move for a limited distance in any direction independently of said arbor.

16. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock-movement, a printing-surface IOC which surrounds and is directly connected to the minute-arbor of said clock-movement, and means for affording a movement in any direction of said printing-surface independently of the minute-arbor for a limited distance, so that the shock due to the impact between the platen and printing-surface Will not be transmitted to said arbor-{and so that the arbor can rotate for a limited distance independently of said printing-surface.

17. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a handoperated plunger for said platen, a clock-movement, a minute-printing surface which surrounds and is directly c011- nected to the minute-arbor of said clock-movement, means for affording a transverse and rotary movement of said printing-surface in dependently of the minute-arbor for a limited distance, so that the shock due to the impact between the platen and printing-surface will not be transmitted to said arbor, a second independently-operable hour-printing surface, and means operatively connected to said minlite-arbor for moving said last mentioned printing-surface.

18. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock-movement, a minute-printing surface which surrounds and is mounted concentrically upon the minute-arbor of said clock-movement, springs which connect said printing-surface to said arbor to afford a movement of said printing-surface independently of the minute-arbor for a limited distance in every direction so that the shock due to the impact between the platen and printing-surface will not be transmitted to said arbor, and so that the arbor may turn for a limited distance independently of said printing-surface, an hour-printing wheel and operative connections between the hour-printing wheel and the minute-arbor for giving a partial rotation to the hour-wheel for each complete rotation of the minutewheel.

19. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock-movement, and minute and hour printing wheels which are connected to and supported by the minute-arbor of said clock-movem ent and surround the same, each of said wheels comprising means for affordinga movement of the printing-surface thereof independently of the minute-arbor, so that the shock due to the impact between the platen and printing-surfaces of said wheels will not be transmitted to the minute-arbor.

20. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock-movement, minute and hour printing wheels which are connected to and supported by the minute-arbor of said clockmovement, and each of said wheels comprising means for affording a movement of the printing-surface thereof independently of the minute-arbor, so that the shock due to the impact between the platen and the printingsurfaces of said wheels will not be transmitted to the minute-arbor, and date-printing wheels supported independently of and disconnected from said minute and hour printing wheels.

21. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock-movement, a printing-wheel which is operatively connected to the minutearbor of said clock-movement and which comprises means for affording a movement of the printing-surface of said wheel independently of the minute-arbor for a limited distance so that the shock due to the impact between the platen and printing-surface will not be transmitted to said minute-arbor, a day-printing wheel supported independently of said minute-wheel, and hand-operated means for rotating the day-printing wheel to change the day thereon.

22. In a time-stamp, the combination of a platen, a clock-movement, minute and hour printing wheels which are operatively connected to the minute-arbor of said clockmovement and which comprise each means for affording a movement of the printingsurface of said wheel independently of the minute-arbor for a limited distance so that shook due to the impact between the platen and printing-surface will not be transmitted to said minute-arbor, day, month and year printing wheels supported independently of and disconnected from said minute and hour wheels, and hand-operated means for rotating the day, month and year printing wheels to change the position of the printing characters thereon to aline with those on the automatically-operated minute and hour wheels.

23. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement,a hub secured to the minutearbor thereof, a minute-marking rim elastically connected to said hub, a sleeve surrounding said arbor, a hub mounted on said sleeve, and an hour-marking rim elastically connected to said second-mentioned hub, and means controlled by the minute-arbor for turning said hour-marking rim and hub one step for each complete rotation of the minute-marking rim and hub.

24:. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, time-wheels actuated thereby, dating wheels, vertically sliding keystems, and wheel actuating devices interposed between the respective dating-wheels and stems and a platen for obtaining an impression from all of said wheels.

25. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, time-wheels actuated thereby, independently-mounted dating-wheels arranged in alinement with said time-wheels, vertically-sliding key-stems, and Wheel-actuating devices interposed between the respective dating-wheels and stems and a platen common to all of said wheels.

26. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement,time-wheels connected to the minute-shaft thereof, dating-wheels mounted on an independent parallel shaft, mechanism for setting said dating-wheels and verticallysliding key-stems for actuating such mechanism, and means for taking an impression simultaneously from all of said wheels.

27. In a timestamp, the combination of a Ito clock-movement, a time-printing wheel connected to the minute-arbor thereof and having an elastically-supported rim, a set of independently -mounted dating-wheels arranged adjacent to said time-printing Wheel and With the uppermost marking portion thereof arranged below the plane of the marking portion of the time-printing Wheel,a platen common to all of said wheels and adapted during the printing stroke to depress the rim of the time-printing Wheel so that its effective marking portion comes into substantially the same plane as the effective marking portions of the dating-wheels, and means for limiting the descent of the rim of the said time-marking Wheel during the said printing stroke.

28. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, hour and minute printing wheels operatively connected to an arbor of said clock-movement, resilient connections between the rim and hub of each wheel, whereby the printing-surfaces in the act of printing may receive a movement independent of said arbor, othercooperating key-rotated dating-Wheels mounted independently of and disconnected from said first-mentioned printing- Wheels, and a platen common to all said Wheels.

29. In a time-stamp, the combination with hour and minute Wheels, of a set of concentric dating-Wheels, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism connected With each dating-Wheel and a set of vertically-sliding finger keys or stems for operating said paWl-and-ratehet mechanisms.

30. In a time-stamp, the combination of a shaft mounted to turn in suitable bearings, a ratchet-wheel and a dating-Wheel secured to said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and provided With a second dating-Wheel and a second ratchet-Wheel, a second sleeve surrounding the first-mentioned sleeve and provided with a third dating-Wheel and a third ratchetwvheel and a key-operated pawl engaging With each of said ratchet-Wheels.

31. In a time-stamp, the combination with minute and hour printing wheels, a clockmovement for driving them, and a manuallyaetuated dating-Wheel, of a counting mechanism for registering the number of times the dating-Wheel has been actuated.

32. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-train, printing members, having characters indicating the time of day, progressively actuated by the clock-train so that, at any time, the characters thereon at the printing-point indicate the time, a platen,hand-operated means for, at any time, during a predetermined period of use, effecting pressure between the platen and the printing members for taking an impression of said characters, and means actuated by the clock-train for preventing such impressions at the termination of the predetermined period of use.

33. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-train, printing members, having characters indicating the time of day, progressively actuated by the clock-train so that, at any time, the characters thereon at the printing-point indicate the time, a platen, hand-operated means for, at anytime, during the predetermined period of use, effecting pressure between the platen and the printing members for taking an impression of said characters, means actuated by the clock-train for preventing such impressions at the termination of the predetermined period of use and handoperated devices for throwing said last-named means out of action to permit the taking of impressions during a further period of use.

34. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-train; printing mechanism controlled thereby and comprisingmembershavingcharacters indicating the time of day progressively actuated by the clock-train so that, at any time, the characters thereon at the printing-point will indicate the time and hand operated means for, at any time during a predetermined period of use, effecting an impression from said characters and a locking device also controlled by the clock-train for holding said hand-operated means against movement at the termination of the predetermined period of use.

35. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-train; printing mechanism controlled thereby and comprising members, having characters indicating the time of day, progressively actuated by the clock-train so that at any time the characters thereon at the printing-point will indicate the time, and hand-operated means for, at any time during a predetermined period of use, effecting an impression from said characters; a locking device also controlled by the clock-train for holding said hand-operated means against movement at the termination of the predetermined period of use; and means for unlocking the locking device to permit the taking of impressions fora further period of use.

36. In a time-stamp, the combination With the clock-movement and the printing mechanism of a locking means therefor controlled by the clock-movement, a day-printing Wheel included in said printing mechanism, and means connected with said day-printing Wheel for advancing it one step and simultaneously unlocking the said locking means.

87. In a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement and the printing mechanism, of an automatically-operated mechanism for locking the printing mechanism out of operation, and a key-actuated mechanism for unlocking said mechanism and for simultaneously actuating one of the dating-wheels of the printing mechanism.

38. In a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement, the printing-wheels, and the platen, of a locking mechanism connected to the clock-movement and also to the platen for locking the latter against printing movement at a predetermined time.

39. I11 a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement, the printing-wheels, and

recess the platen, of a locking mechanism controlled by the clock-movement and connected to the platen and operated at a predetermined time to lock the latter against movement, and means connected with the day-printing wheel for unlocking said locking mechanism at the same time that the day-wheel is actuated.

40. In a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement, the printing-wheels and the platen, a spring-actuated locking mechanism, and a latch controlled by the clock movement for preventing the said locking mechanism from acting until a predetermined time.

41. In a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement, printing-Wheels and the platen, of a spring-actuated locking mechanism, a latch for holding said locking mechanism out of action, and a cam operated by the clock-movement for acting upon said latch at a predetermined time and causing it to release the spring-actuated locking mechanism and engage it with the said platen.

42. In a time-stamp, the combination with a clock-movement, printing-wheels and a platen, of a plunger carrying said platen, a bolt or bar adapted to engage said plunger, a lever for operating said bolt or bar, a springpressed rod connected to said lever, a latching-lever adapted to hold said rod, and a cam connected to the clock-movement for acting on the last-mentioned lever and releasing said spring-pressed rod so as to cause the bar or bolt to engage with the plunger.

43. In a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement, the printing-wheels and the platen and its plunger of a locking bar or bolt, a lever for moving the same, a springpressed rod controlling said lever, a latchinglever, a cam for acting upon the latter, a daywheel key for turning the day-wheel, and connections from said key to said spring-pressed rod for resetting the spring-actuated locking mechanism simultaneously with the setting of the day-wheel.

44. In a time-stamp, the combination with the clock-movement, printing-wheels and the plunger and its platen, of a locking bar or bolt, a lever for moving the same, aspringpressed rod for actuating said lever, a latching-lever, a cam for actuating the latter, a key for turning the day-wheel, a rocker-arm connected with said key and a rocker-arm connected with said spring-pressed rod for resetting the locking mechanism.

45. In a time-stamp, means for automatically locking the platen against movement, and means for unlocking the platen when the printing-date of the stamp is changed.

46. In a time-stamp, the combination with a series of printing-Wheels, some of which are set automatically by the time-movement and others by hand operations, the platen cooperating with said Wheels, and time-controlled mechanism for locking said platen, of means con trolled by one of the hand-operated wheels for unlocking the platen and resetting the locking mechanism.

47. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, printing instrumentalities, means for automatically locking said printing instrumentalities out of operation, handoperated means for setting said printing instrumentalities, and means controlled by said setting means for automatically releasing the locking means.

48. I11 a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, printing instrumentalities, and means for automatically locking said printing instrumentalities out of operation once in every twenty-four hours, hand-operated means for setting said printing instrumentalities to change the day to be printed, and means controlled by said setting means for automatically releasing the locking means.

49. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement,printing-surfaces,ahand operated platen, and automaticallyoperated means for locking the platen against movement.

50. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement,printing-surfaces,ahand-operated platen, and automatically-operated I means controlled by the clock-movement for looking the platen against movement once in every twenty-four (24) hours.

51. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, printing-surfaces, a hand'operated platen, automatically-operated means for locking the platen against movement at a fixed time, and hand-operated means for unlocking the platen.

52. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement,printing-surfaces,a hand-operated platen, automatically-operated means for locking the platen against movement, and means for automatically unlocking said platen when the printing-date of the stamp is changed.

53. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, a printing-surface, the setting of which is controlled by said clockmovement, a printing-surface which is set by hand, a platen which cooperates with said printing surfaces, automatically operated means controlled by the clock-movement for locking said platen against movement at twelve oclock midnight, and hand-operated means for releasing said locking means.

54. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, a printing-surface, the setting of which is controlled by said clockmovemeut, a printing-surface which is set by hand, a platen which cooperates with said printing surfaces, automaticallyoperated means controlled by the clock-movement for locking said platen against movement at twelve oclock midnight, and means which are controlled by the setting of the hand-set printing-surface to automatically release the locking means.

55. In a timestamp, the combination of a clock-movement, atime-printing wheel which is automatically operated by said clock-movement, a day-printing wheel which is hand set or actuated, a platen which cooperates with said printing-wheels, means, controlled by the clock-movement for locking said platen at twelve oclock midnight, hand-operated means for setting said day-wheel, and means controlled by said hand operated setting means for releasing said lock, whereby when the day-wheel is changed the locking means will be automatically released.

56. In a time-stamp, the combination with a clockmovement and the hour-marking wheel thereof, of a cam on the minute-shaft, a spring-pressed pawl-carrying lever adapted to be raised and released by said cam, a ratchet-wheel connected to said hour-marking wheel, a toothed wheel attached to said ratchet-wheel, a spring-pressed detent therefor having an arm or extension which is arranged in the path of vibration of the said pawl-carrying lever and so as to be depressed thereby to disengage the said detent when the hour-wheel is to be turned.

57. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock-movement, printing-wheels which are moved automatically by said clockmovement, an inking-ribbon and a spring-supported ribbon-guide which normally maintains the inking-ribbon out of contact with the printing-Wheels.

58. In a time-stamp, the combination with a clock, of printing-wheels, means for automatically rotating said wheels from said clock, a spring paper-support, and a ribbon-guide carried by said support.

59. In a time-stamp, the combination with a clock, of printing-wheels, means for automatically rotating said Wheels from said clock, an apertured spring paper-support, and a ribbon-guide carried by said support and adapted to guide the ribbon across the aperture in said support, the construction and arrangement being such that the ribbon is normally maintained by said guide away from the face of the printing-wheels and the wheels are adapted to print through the aperture in said support.

60. In a time-stamp a centrally-supported printing-wheel having a rigid marking-rim which is elastically connected to its center of rotation and adapted to move bodily independently of its center, combined with a time mechanism by which the wheel is driven.

61. In a time-stamp a centrally-mounted printing-wheel having a rigid marking-rim which is elastically connected to its center of rotation so as to permit a bodily movement of said rim independently and transversely of its center, combined with a time mechanism by which the wheel is driven.

62. In a time-stamp a printing-wheel having a rigid hub, a rigid marking-rim, and elastic connections between the hub and rim for enabling the latter to move independently of the former, combined with a time mechanism by which the wheel is driven.

63. In a time-stamp a printing-wheel comprising a rigid hub, a rigid marking-rim, and spring spokes connecting them, combined with a time mechanism by which the wheel is driven.

64:. In a time-stamp, the combination of a centrally-mounted printing-wheel having a marking-rim connected to its center so as to havea movement independent thereof, means for limiting the movement of the rim during the printing action, and a timepiece or clock the mechanism of which drives the printingwheel.

65. In a time-stamp, the combination of a centrally-mounted printing-wheel having a marking-rim connected to its center so as to have a movement independent thereof, a platen for thus moving the rim, an abutment for limiting the movement of. the rim when actuated by the platen, and a spring-drumdriven clock the mechanism of which drives the printing-wheel.

66. In a time-stamp, the combination of a bodilymovable elastically and centrally mounted printing-rim, a platen for moving the rim, an abutment for limiting said movement under the blow of the platen, and a spring-drum driven clock that drives the printing-wheel.

67. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock having an ordinary spring-drum,a printing-wheel driven by the clock coincidently with the minute-hand thereof and having upon its periphery raised time-indicating characters or types, an impression-platen and means whereby impact of the platen-upon a type is cushioned radially to prevent material transmission of the shock of impact to the driving-shaft of the wheel.

68. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock having an ordinary spring drivingdrum, a printing-wheel driven by the clock coincidently with the minute hand thereof and having time indicating characters or types upon the periphery each of which is elastically supported both with reference to its movement radially and the turning movement of the wheel and a platen between which and the faces of the types impressions may be taken upon an interposed sheet whereby the driving-shaft of the wheel is cushioned against shock of impact between the platen and the types and the turning movement of the wheelshaft is not arrested at the moment of any such impression.

69. In a time-stamp, the combination of a time mechanism, a printing-wheel driven thereby and having upon its periphery raised time-indicating characters or types and resiliently-acting means interposed between the types and time mechanism acting to cushion radial strain of impact against the types and access to permit the uninterrupted movement of the time mechanism during the moment when an impression is being taken from any type.

70. In a time-stamp, the combination of a clock movement, printing Wheels driven thereby, a casing Within which the movement and Wheels are contained having a cover with an opening for the printing-wheels and an apertnred ribbon-carrying guide, normally spring-supported to hold the ribbon out of contact with the Wheels and flexibly attached at one edge to the cover, whereby the ribbonguide and the contiguous part of the cover afford a guide for directing the paper into position when pushed along the face of the cover.

71. In a time-stamp, the combination of a time mechanism, a printing wheel driven thereby and comprising a rim with type or characters thereon and a yielding connection between the rim and center which cushions the wheel-shaft against radial shocks and permits a continued movement of its center and the driving clock mechanism at the moment an impression is taken, a spring-supported ribbon-guide normally holding the ribbon out of contact with the wheel and an impressionplaten. I

72. In a time-stamp, the combination with minute and hour printing wheels, a clockmovement for driving them, a detent for locking them against reversed rotation and a manually-actuated dating-wheel of a counting mechanism for registering the number of times the dating-wheel has been actuated.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of October, A. D. 1901.

EDWARD B. HESS. JOSEPH M. STOUGI-ITON.

WVitn esses:

K. V. DONOVAN, E. 'M. WELLS. 

